Single Idea 16511

[catalogued under 18. Thought / D. Concepts / 4. Structure of Concepts / f. Theory theory of concepts]

Full Idea

A 'conception' of horse is a theory of what a horse is, or what it is to be a horse. The conception is in no way the same as the concept. The conception is of the concept.

Gist of Idea

A 'conception' of a horse is a full theory of what it is (and not just the 'concept')

Source

David Wiggins (Sameness and Substance [1980], 3.1)

Book Reference

Wiggins,David: 'Sameness and Substance' [Blackwell 1980], p.79


A Reaction

Wiggins sounds confident about a sharp distinction here, which I doubt, but some such distinction seems to required. I quite like Williams's 'fat' and 'thin' concepts.